Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-01


on to the left, there saw two ponies an
suon after two squsws. One of th
squaws had brass kettle preparin,
something. The other was an Ansdsrgt
squaH and had bady in her arms. Tar
rant, learning that Indians were in tn
brush kept his men out of the way and lie
US go it alone. Bowlin and I concluded
to charge the camp. When we got within
seventy-fve yards of it the squsws saw
us. One running down the creek, and tn,
one with the child run directly towards
me-. l could have killed both OF them and
thinking OF the eight people killed in ont
my neighboTs' families, l wonder l die
not. The Indians were alarmed and
sought shelter and concealment. Tarrant
sent Denton, myself and two Oh
three others to 90 into thC
divide in small crowds. We went iatc
the thicket and came to slough; Bowllr
and two Or three others rode across. II
! Denton had crossed he might not have
been killed, but he thought it too DOGGY.
He suggested a different route, which we
followed, and entering a thicket We soon
| saw evidences OF the presence of Indians.
| BoWlln and party had taken the left and
we the right, and that is what fooled us.
We thought he was ahead of us and he
was, in fact, behind. Just as Denton and
l were going down q small ravine ten or
twelve Indians fired on US from the
thicket. l heard the shots and looked at
Denton. He had raised his gun TO shoot,
but dropped it and fell on the ground
dead. Ills horse commenced grazing by
| him. In q moment | received 2 severe
wound il the arm and another bullet
struck the lock CT my Dutch gun; tore off
me spring and knocked the stock against
the side of my head with such force as 10
stun me. You see my arm is still shat.
tered and SCARED. Tarrant heard the
guns but never made q move TO assist US.
He mad sent handful Of US
20 look for Indians, knowing well that if
we found them we Weuld have to fight, and
if we did not our erraRd was fruitIess.
As soon as Bowiin heard the shooting he
rushed TO our assistance, and Scott cried
out that Denton vas killed and Stout
wounded. Scott had not sworn for some
time, but he cursed the stupidity that
brought about the accident. l was bleed
ing pTOfusely and was weak, and BOWlin
said we had better 90 20 camp. We went
to where Tarrant's command was, and on
the way BowIin reached down and picked
up brass kettle that the Indians had
.Gft.au dipping up water from the branch
poured il or my head. | think that saved
my life. TaTr2nt wanted to 90 back, out
the boys would not hear to it. The In
dians mad fed in CONSERVATION, and we
picked up d great deal Of plumber. Ket-
ties, buffalo robes, eighty head OF horses,
and worlds of corn which they he'd made
and hid out IN the thiCket. We buried
Denton in the forks of YosseI
AMI l marked the place as
told you aud TeCollected it and found It
thirty eight years after. We also found
powder, lead aud more salt than mule
could pack. a DutchmSn in our party
GOT ten head of horses that were stolen
from him previously and we we're rich in
plumber and spoils."
The old gentleman recounted many
events ct the early days Of Texas The
death Of Chief BoWles, the famous Cnero-
kee; the part played in these stirring
times by men whose names are q part Of
the history of Texas, and of the struggles
and privati0ns OF early settlers. From
The time Mr.. Stout went to Red River
county in 1920, until 1912 he was always
under arms and ready to 90 ct moments
notice In 1912, when the Mexicans
threatened San Antonio, he was called
out and started to the Alamo City. On the
way they were turned back and given or
derS TO be ready at minutes notice TO
march again, and since that date Mr..
Stout says, 81 have been 2 minute man
ever since"
CHIEF BOWLES.
"Te did not do Bowles right" said
Mr.. Stout, "and I'll always regret it.
Bowes was the friend of the white men,
In 1896 when the report got out that
Houston was whipped, some of the
Indians wanted to come and whip us.
Bowles dissented. He said while the
Indians might whip the few white from
uersmen, there were other white men,
and too many to attack. Re thus
averted war. When Texas passed
a law providing that no colored !
person could hold land, this applied !
to the Cherokees. The Indians were
ordered 10 quit the country 1t an impos-
sible time. When they explained they |
could not, they were then told to give up |
their guns. Rusk mad demanded this !
and B0wles was willing but his braves |
.ebelled and would not DO it. The last |
ight was on this account and poor BOWles |
was killed at the head of his people in /
Van Zandt . county. Yes, WEI done
8oWles wrong" said the old gentleman !
and the reporter moved or.